Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Everyone in the family has always known my cousin Phong was talented. But last week, when Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced that he was one of three "emerging designers" who received the inaugural Fashion Angel Award from the City of Los Angeles and the Department of Cultural Affairs, it was even more wonderful that my cousin had this opportunity to show off his skills.

His new Femme Noir Collection debuted at the Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week Fashion Angel Award Emerging Designers Runway Show at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA.

Phew! What a mouthful. Can I get a "whoohoo!"?

So excited! The show didn't begin until designer Randolph Duke, who was on the committee who picked the winners, showed up.

I've always wanted to see my name in highlights.

You'll have to excuse my crappy photography. I was in the second row and faced the runway from a side angle. Plus, why do runway models have to move? That's why I photograph food. Food doesn't move. Er, well, it shouldn't anyway.

And I love that people always try to look all contemplative when watching fashion shows.

The first look is "Lily of the Valley": Folded edgy bodice with textured ruffle top skirt. Built-in vintage gold belt detail. Vintage ivory top and pearl colored skirt. Silk.

Didn't everything look so dreamy and romantic? I've seen all the dresses up-close and they're so detailed and exquisite. But it's not just me! I'm not biased just because he's my cousin.

I ran into Quoc of YeahManh, whose friend S of Paisley Petunia, was how I found his blog in the first place. Anyway, during the show and before meeting me and finding out he's my cousin, she tweeted, "Femme Noir by Phong Hong is to die for! Would wear every short, romantic, rosebud dress he sent down the runway."

Anyway, while we were waiting in the reception area before the show, I noticed new aluminum Coke bottles. OK, I had a big purse and managed to sneak out a few bottles because I thought they were so cool.

Then in the weird world of coincidences, right afterward, I got contacted by Liz, who does their PR, asking if I'd like to give away some aluminum Coke bottles to my readers.

So quick giveaway! Leave a comment and TWO readers will receive one of each limited edition bottle of Coke, Diet Coke, and Coke Zero. Not only are they retro cool, the bottles also stay colder, longer. Sorry, only open to US residents. Please say "Coke" somewhere in your comment if you are eligible and you'd like to win. Otherwise, I'll just assume you're commenting on my way awesome cousin. :)

I'll take entries up to 11:59 p.m., Sunday, October 18. Please check back to this post to find out if you've won.

If you're not a blogger, please leave an email address or some way for me to contact you.

Thanks to Random.org, I've picked the two winners to receive aluminum bottles of Coke, Diet Coke, and Coke Zero.

They are...

#13 Nathalie!
A small note about the drawing:
(#16 was disqualified since it was the second comment by the reader (I was only going to take her first comment's position if she was randomly picked.) and the next person on the list didn't mention Coke, so I assumed they didn't want the prize. So I drew again, and since #16 popped up again, it was easy to exclude that again.)

So I drew again and the second winner is #14 Jan Frederick!

Please email your mailing address to me at wanderingchopsticks (at) gmail (dot) com so I can pass it along to Liz so she can send you your prize.

And because I did not hear back from Sarah regarding the McCormick & Schmick's giveaway, I drew again. Did you comment on the original post? Check and see if you won!

Haha! I already got a Coke bottle! Yay, cousin benefits! Hm, I recommend you drink it before displaying it where ever because cola is acidic; I've seen a can of Jolt cola that had eaten through the can which was encased in plastic. It was seven to ten years old however =P

Your cousin really IS talented. I've been reading your blog for a couple months now (and I read several other food blogs, cook and eat a lot myself as well) - and FYI, I'm thinner than any of those models. But short, crooked, and old, so definitely not model material. :D

But you can be bony and LOVE food. I really want that Primrose dress! I love his use of texture and general material choices. A+++

What I like is the fact that ur cuz's dresses are "wearable" ie. I could see myself wearing them as opposed to those "couture" dresses that only look good on models on the runway and would make you look like an alien should you even attempt to wear them.Oh, and btw, those Coke bottles look pretty neat =D

Have I told you how much I love your pie crust? It's my go-to for every pie. Tonight it will be the bottom crust for a strusel-covered spicy apple pie with vanilla ice cream and homemade caramel sauce and a tray of cinnamon twists from the other half of the crust dough. Yum!

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